Reggie White Dies at 43 AP SI Writers • King: White had biggest heart in the game • Dr. Z: Top 10 pass-rushers of all time • Photo Gallery Images from White's career Latest news • White dies at 43, possibly from lung ailment • Disease cited in White's death usually not lethal • White's Urban Hope started over 400 businesses

Maybe none of us should be surprised that Reggie White's heart gave out today. Maybe it was just overworked. In 21 years covering the NFL, I've seen few hearts as big and as generous as White's.

White obviously was a giant on the field, the best run-stopper and pass-rusher among defensive ends that I've ever seen. Maybe Deacon Jones was as good or better, but I doubt anyone else can stake the claim as being as dominant a defensive end as White and Jones were.

I maintain he should be remembered for more than his power rush around countless offensive tackles. I believe White changed two franchises. He was the leader of a marauding band of Philadelphia Eagles, a group that brought the Eagles from doormat to contender in the '80s. And he changed the Green Bay Packers. He changed them forever.

One of the most interesting stories I've covered in 15 years at Sports Illustrated is the circus that was Reggie White's foray into free agency at the birth of real NFL free agency in 1993. You probably remember how many teams wanted him desperately: Washington, the New York Jets, San Francisco, Green Bay, Dallas and Cleveland. All would've changed their financial structures to get White.

I was along for the recruitment, along to see the $800 leather jacket handed to Reggie's wife, Sarah, in a Cleveland hotel suite. the perks everywhere were nutty. I'll never forget the flight on Art Modell's private plane from Cleveland to Dallas. On the plane were Reggie and Sarah, fellow free-agent and friend Harry Galbreath and agent Jimmy Sexton.

What stood out was the respect White had for his wife. Because Sarah was going to have to live and raise a family wherever he went, he wanted to make sure that she was OK with whatever decision was made. This wasn't just a husband dictating the next move to the family; there was a legitimate sense of, "I wanted to do what's best for this family."

Maybe he could've done more big works in a metropolitan area. But he established a base for doing good things in Green Bay, Milwaukee, as well as his adopted hometown of Knoxville. Was the money a factor? Yes, a big one. But Reggie White put his money where his beliefs were, helping unwed mothers who couldn't afford to help themselves.

I believe the Green Bay Packers wouldn't have achieved the greatness they achieved in the late '90s without White. Brett Favre won three MVPs. Reggie White and Favre were the sheriffs of that locker room. Players just followed him. His imitations -- Muhammad Ali, Fred Flinstone, countless others -- had his teammates loose. They would've followed him anywhere.

In the end, White made it popular for free agents, especially African-American ones, to go to the NFL's smallest franchise in northeast Wisconsin. I know Mike Holmgren always felt the White signing was the turning point for that franchise. It's amazing when you look at the Packers today and see them in contention every year. Make no mistake, Favre deserves a lion's share of the credit, but there's no way the Packers would be the consistently winning team they are had Reggie White picked another team in 1993.

I know there must be a river of tears in Knoxville, Philadelphia and Green Bay today. There should be great sorrow. But there should also be a feeling that the man made many lives richer in his 43 years. That's what we should remember.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King covers the NFL beat for the magazine and is a regular contributor to SI.com. Monday Morning Quarterback appears in this space every week.